Fast track to the Taj Mahal

Gatimaan Express completes maiden journey

Travellers wanting to visit the Taj Mahal, situated on the outskirts of Agra, will now find it a little easier to get there. India’s fastest train service, the Gatimaan Express, which links New Dehli and Agra recently successfully completed its maiden journey.

The Gatimaan Express covered the 125 mile trip in 100 minutes running up to 100 mph. Travel time between New Dehli and Agra is usually between two and three hours. The service features some Indian railway firsts: hostesses on each carriage, free Wi-Fi and access via an app to on-demand moves, TV programmes and music videos.

The train will depart New Delhi’s Hazrat Nizamuddin station at 8.10am every day except for Fridays, when the attraction is closed; the return journey will leave Agra Cantonment at 5.50pm every evening (not Fridays!). It’s worth considering staying overnight in Agra and visiting the Taj Mahal at dawn, a magical time.

The Taj Mahal

The Taj Mahal is one of the world’s most celebrated structures and a stunning symbol of India’s rich history. It was commissioned by the Mughal emperor Shah Jahan in 1632, to be built in the memory of his wife Mumtaz Mahal. Built over the course of the next 20 years the Taj Mahal is one of the most outstanding examples of Mughal architecture, which combined Indian, Persian and Islamic influences. Built of shimmering white marble that seems to change colour depending on the sunlight or moonlight hitting its surface, the Taj Mahal was designated a UNESCO World Heritage site in 1983.